Steam trap



sJulyi3l, 1928.

H. w. JusTus STEAM TRAP Filed April 28. 1927 INVENTOR ATTOR N EY WITNESS:

Patented July 31, 1928*.

UNITED STATES HENRY W. JUSTUS, OF NAPANOCI'I, NEW YORK.

STEAM TRAP.

Application led April 28, 1927.

This invention relates to valve controlling means which is especially designed for a steam trap, but which, of course, can be used for other purposes, such as boiler feeds, damper regulators, pump governors, etc.

The general object of the invention is to provide an assembly of diaphragme and valves actuated by fluid pressure for automatically controlling the main valve through means of a iloat or other device.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the sev` eral views, and in which:

Figure. 1 is an elevation with parts in section, showing the invention applied to a steam trap.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through a portion of the trap, the controlling device and the iloat operated valve.

In these views, 1 indicates the casing of the trap which is so placed that it will receive the water of condensation from a steam system, the inlet pipe being shown at 2, and a baille 3 having holes 3 therein serves the purpose ot checking the velocity of the water rushing in through the inlet pipe 2 so that this battle prevents the rush of water from interfering with the proper action of the float. The holes 3 near its bottom act t0 equalize the level in the two compartments and keeps the water comparatively quiet. The outlet pipe is shown at 4, and this pipe passes through the top ofthe casing and eX- tends to a point close to the bottom of the casing. A valve casing 5 is connected with the upper end of the pipe 4 and has a discharge pipe 6 connected therewith. The valve 7 in this casing has its stem extending into a diaphragm casing 8, the diaphragm 9 resting upon a head 10 on the stem. A spring 11 on said stem normally holds the valve in open position.

A casing 12 is in communication with the top of the trap 1 and a pipe 13 connects the top of the casing 12 with the diaphragm cas ing 8, an automatic air valve 14 being arranged above the point of connection of the Serial No. 187,21.

. mienne PATENT i OFFICE.

pipe 13 with the Casing 8. A `valve seatfl carrying member 15 is arranged in the casing 12, the seat being adapted to be engaged by a valve 16 which is actuated through means of a float 17 in the trap, these parts being so arranged that when the float is raised by the accumulation of water in the trap, the valve 16 will be pressed against the seat and thus prevent the escape of steam from the trap.

A sectional casing 18 is formed with the 1 diaphragm chambers 19 and 20, one at each end thereof, and with a central chamber' 21 which is in communication with both diaphragm chambers. A valve 22 controls the communication between the lower phragm chamber and the central chamber and the stems 23 of this valve have their heads 24 engaging the diaphragms 25 and 25 in said chambers. The lower chamber,

below the diaphragm therein, is in communication with the trap and a pipe 26 connects the top part of the top chamber with the passage 27 which connects the central chamber 21 with ythe lower diaphragm chamber,

and this passage is connected with the valve .f "z

casing 12 by apipe 28. The central chamber is connected by a pipe 29 withthe valve casing 5 above the valve therein.

Assuming that the trap is empty or pracn tically so, and the float is in lowered posi- .r

tion, steam will pass through the casing 12 and pipe 13into the diaphragm casing "8 and depress the diaphragm therein and thus hold the valve 7 to its seat. `Some oli the steam will also enter the upper vparts of the two diaphragm chambers in casing 18, and this pressure in the lower chamber will balance the pressure on the diaphragm therein, caused by the steam entering this diaphragm chamber directly from the trap, f

upper portions of the diaphragm chambersn in casing 18 and also in the diaphragm chamber 8. This will ypermit the steam pressure in the trap to overbalance the lower diaphragm in chamber 1S, which will raise valve 22 off its seat so that steam can pass from the upper chamber in casing 1S through pipe Q6, passage 27, into chamber 2l, from which it will pass through the pipe 29 into the casing 5, while the steam in casing 8 will pass through pipe 13, casing l2, pipe 2S into chamber 2T and then through passage 21 and pipe 29 to the casing 5. Thus the pressure is relieved in dia phragm casing 8 so that the spring 'll can open the valve 7, which will permit the steam pressure, acting on the water in the trap, to force the water through pipe l, valve casing and through discharge pipe 6. As the float drops, due to the discharge of water from the trap, the valve 1G will again be moved from off its seat so that steam will again pass into the diaphragm chambers, causing the valves 'l' and 22 to close, which will prevent the escape of steam through the exhaust. Thus the device will automatically operate to keep the trap free of water and, as before stated, while the device is primarily7 designed to control the discharge valve of a steam trap, it muy be used for automatically closing and opening a valve of a boiler feed, damper regulator, pump governor, etc.

It is thought from the foregoing descrip tion that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that l may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

that I claim is l. In combination with a steam trap and its controlling valve, means for normally holding the valve in open position, a diaphragm chambe a'ssociated with the valve,

a diaphragm in the chamber, means for sup plying steam to the diaphragm chamber from the trap to cause the diaphagm to close the valve, a fioat operated Valve for controlling the supply of steam to the diaphragm chamber, a casing having an eX- haust chamber and upper and lower diaphragm chambers therein and a passage connecting the exhaust chamber with the lower diaphragm chamber, a diaphragm in each diaphragm chamber, the lower chamber having its lower part in communication with the trap, means for placing the upper part of the top diaphragm chamber in communication with the passage, a valve for controlling communication between the passage and the exhaust chamber, stems on the valve engaging the upper and lower dia phragms and means for placing the passage in communi 'ation with the means for connecting' the trap with the main diaphragm chambei above the float operated valve.

2. In combination with a steam trap, a valve l'or controlling the passage thereof, a spring for normally holding the valve open, a diaphragm chamber associated with the valve, a diaphragm therein, a valve casing ou the top of the trap, a pipe connecting the .same with the diaphragm chamber so that steun from the trap will enter the chamber to cause the diaphragm therein to ltorce the. valve upon its scat, a valve in the casing, a float for closing the valve when the water oi condensation rises in the trap. a diaphragm casing formed with upper and lower diaphragm chambers and a central chamber with a passage connecting the central chamber with the lower diaphragm chamber, the bottom part of the lower chamiie' being in communication with the trap, diaphragins in the diaphragm chambers, a valve for controlling communication between the passage and the central chamber, stems on said valve engaging the diaphragme, a pipe connecting the passage with the top part of the lop chau'ibcr, :i pipe connecting the passage with the casing of the float operated valve and a discharge pipe connecting the central chamber with the casing of the main valve.

il. In combination with a control valve. a supply of compressed lluid. means l'or operating the valve by .some of the luid from said supply, an automatic valve for controlling the llow of lluid from the supply to the valve operating means, a casing having an exhaust chamber, upper and lower diaphragm chambers therein and a passage conncctng the exhaust chamber with the lower diaphragm] chan'ibcr. a diaphragm in each diaphragm chamber` the lower chainbcr having its lower part in communication with the supply, means for placing` the upper part of the top diaphragm chamber in communication with the passage. a valve for controlling communication between i'hc passaglje and thc exhaust chamber, stems on the valve engaging the upper and lower diaphragms. and means for connecting" the passage with the supply, such connecting means being controlled by the auton'iatic means before mentioned.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY IV. JUSTUS. 

